Special Sign Needed to Enforce Rhode Island Anti-ICEing Law

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo signed an “anti-ICEing” bill into law on Tuesday, July 18, 2017. Bill H6302 prohibits a vehicle from occupying a specially designated parking space at an EV charging station unless it is connected to the charging equipment.

In order to be enforceable, the charging space must be indicated with a sign identifying it as an electric vehicle charging station only for electric vehicle charging along with an indication that it is subject to a parking violation. The law will be enforceable on public and private property as applicable but only where designated by signage meeting all the specified requirements.

The penalty is a fine of $85.00 and the law goes into effect immediately.

Rhode Islanders who want to see this law enforced should contact the property managers at EV charging station sites and ask them to post the required signs. It would be a good idea to suggest that the property manager consult with the local police department before ordering signs to ensure the content and design meet the required standards needed for enforcement of §31-21-18 of the General Laws of Rhode Island.

§31-21-18. Electric vehicle charging station parking restrictions.

(a) For the purposes of this section, “electric vehicle charging station” means a public or private parking space that is served by charging equipment that has as its primary purpose the transfer of electric energy to a battery or other energy storage device in an electric vehicle.

(b) No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle in any electric vehicle charging station provided on any public or private parking space if the vehicle is not connected to the charging equipment and where the electric vehicle charging station is indicated by signage identifying the station as an electric vehicle charging station and indicating that it is only for electric vehicle charging and subject to a parking violation.

(c) Enforcement of the parking provisions of this section shall be enforced by the local or state authorities on public or private property when the location of the parking spaces is within the purview of the state building code, chapter 27.3 of title 23.

(d) Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in §31-41.1-4.